One-time Ballon d’Or winner, Luis Suarez Miramontes had disclosed he would hand over his prize to Robert Lewandowski if the Bayern Munich forward isn’t considered for the accolade.
The Polish striker was beaten to the prestigious award as Argentine Lionel Messi emerged winner a record seventh occasion in Paris on Monday.
Meanwhile, Miramontes who is regarded as one the all-time great Spanish players, could keep to his promise after all.
Miramontes played for Deportivo, Inter Milan and Barcelona during a trophy-laden 16-year career.
He spent six years with the Catalan giants and during that spell, he became the first Spanish player to win the Ballon d’Or when he was awarded France Football’s prestigious prize in 1960.
It’s fair to say Miramontes knows a thing or two about the game, so when discussing the 2021 Ballon d’Or event in an interview with Carrusel Deportivo earlier this month, he made a big pledge.
The 86-year-old said: “Give the Ballon d’Or to Lewandowski, damn it! Otherwise, I’ll give him mine.”
Lewandowski, who picked up the FIFA Men’s Best Player Award before the Ballon d’Or was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, played a huge part in Bayern Munich’s treble-winning triumph in 2020, scoring 56 goals in 50 games for club and country.
In that season, he beat the likes of Timo Werner and Jadon Sancho in the scoring charts, and was named the Bundesliga’s Player of the Season, with a total of 42.6 per cent of his fellow players labelling him the best in the league.
Poland’s record goalscorer has continued that ruthless streak in front of goal in 2021 but it still wasn’t enough, as Lionel Messi secured his seventh Ballon d’Or on Monday night.
